Combos / Guide

Maximize iPad Multitasking: Set Up 1-Tap Split View Icons in 5 Minutes with Splicon

Stop resetting your workspace every single time. Turn your iPad from a simple video player into a powerhouse productivity terminal for the AI era.

Chapter 1: Are You Really Making the Most of iPad's Split View?

Almost every iPad user knows about Split View—the ability to divide the screen and run two apps simultaneously. It is arguably one of the greatest weapons in the iPadOS arsenal.

Yet, many people admit: “I know the feature exists, but setting it up every time is such a hassle that I just end up using one app at a time.”

Think about the usual workflow: open the first app, swipe up to reveal the Dock (or fiddle with Stage Manager), drag the second app over, try to drop it perfectly, and adjust the split ratio. Doing this repeatedly feels slower than just switching apps on a single screen.

By the time you finish reading this guide, you will have a system that turns multitasking into a permanent habit. All it takes is a 5-minute initial setup to create custom icons. From then on, a single tap on your Home Screen launches your favorite app pairs instantly.

Chapter 2: Why the iPad is the Ultimate Tool for “Parallel Tasks”

Why does Split View matter so much? Because when it comes to lighter, casual multitasking, the iPad reigns supreme over both PCs and smartphones.

Not a PC, Not a Phone—The iPad Sweet Spot

Laptops are powerful, but pulling one out of a backpack requires an intentional effort that raises the mental friction for quick sessions. Laptops feel like tools for “heavy work.” They are overkill for taking notes in bed or checking Slack while reading a document on the train. On the other hand, smartphones offer ultimate portability, but their screens are too cramped to make dual-window multitasking practical.

The iPad perfectly balances portability, screen size, and Split View capabilities. It excels at low-friction, high-impact tasks:

These are tasks you could do on a PC, but doing so feels cumbersome. With an iPad, you open the cover and you are ready to go in seconds. The ability to seamlessly jump into Split View dictates whether your iPad achieves its true potential.

Chapter 3: The Ultimate Fix—Put Split Icons on Your Home Screen

The solution is simple: Stop setting up Split View manually. Instead, use Splicon to generate custom shortcuts directly on your Home Screen once and for all.

Splicon is a dedicated iPad utility that merges two distinct app logos into a single, side-by-side icon image.

While Apple's native Shortcuts app lets you build Split View automations, it limits icon choices to generic glyphs or emojis. If you set up multiple pairs like “Safari × Notes” and “Zoom × Notes,” they quickly become indistinguishable. Splicon solves this by producing an instant visual layout of both apps, letting you know exactly what a shortcut opens at a single glance.

Before (The Friction-Heavy Way)

  1. Open App A
  2. Swipe up to reveal the Dock
  3. Find App B
  4. Drag and drop it precisely to the side
  5. Manually adjust the split ratio

→ 5 tedious steps, every single time

After Splicon (Zero Friction)

  1. Tap the combined icon on your Home Screen

→ Done. Ready to work instantly.

The Psychology of Visual Cues

Behavioral science proves that our actions are driven far more by immediate environmental triggers than by sheer willpower. If an icon representing your workflow is staring right at you from your Home Screen, your brain naturally prompts you to tap it. If the feature requires manual dragging every time, your brain skips it out of convenience.

Chapter 4: The 5-Minute Setup Guide

Getting started with Splicon is straightforward:

  1. Download Splicon — Search for it on the App Store. It is entirely free to try for your first few pairs.
  2. Select Two Apps — Search for the official App Store logos of the two apps you want to pair side by side.
  3. Generate the Icon Image — Splicon automatically stitches the two logos into a perfectly balanced icon.
  4. Save to Photos— Export the combined image straight to your iPad's camera roll.
  5. Configure the iOS Shortcut — Open the built-in Shortcuts app, add a Split View action for those apps, and choose your saved image as the Home Screen icon.
  6. Place on Home Screen — Drop the new shortcut onto your primary page or your Dock for immediate access.

Note: Splicon is designed exclusively for iPad and requires iPadOS 15 or later on Split View-compatible models. The free version easily handles your core pairs, while a one-time Pro upgrade unlocks unlimited pairs and a convenient history log.

Chapter 5: 12 Essential Split View Combinations to Set Up First

To kickstart your productivity, we have curated twelve highly effective app pairs — from work and learning to AI productivity and daily life. Each guide explains why the pair works and how to turn it into a one-tap Home Screen shortcut.

Browse every combination with setup tips in our Split View combo library.

Chapter 6: Tips for Making Multitasking a Lasting Habit

You do not need to create dozens of combinations overnight. Follow these three simple rules to make it stick:

  1. Start with Your Top Habit: Use the free version of Splicon to build the single pair you would benefit from most every day (like ChatGPT × YouTube or Kindle × Notebook).
  2. Give It Prime Real Estate: Place the shortcut in your Dock or the top row of your Home Screen. Remember: visibility equals action.
  3. Iterate with Pro: Once you realize how jarring it feels to go back to a single-tasking layout, upgrade to the Pro version. The Pro tier is a one-time lifetime purchase that gives you unlimited icons and a history log for seamless adjustments.

Chapter 7: Designing an “iPad-First” Workflow

The true magic of the iPad unfolds when you stop treating it like a large phone and start designing it as a multi-window dashboard. Spend 5 minutes setting up your favorite combination today, and watch how drastically your iPad usage evolves over the coming week.

💡 Special Focus: The Ultimate Environment for US Stock Investors

For those analyzing the US stock market, an iPad mini paired with Split View is arguably the ultimate setup.

The US market opens late in the evening and closes early in the morning (Japan time). This means tracking market movements usually happens while relaxing in bed or on the couch—environments where a heavy laptop feels intrusive but a smartphone screen is too small to study detailed charts.

An iPad mini solves this. By launching a custom Split View icon like TradingView × X (Twitter), you can track real-time chart candles on one half while monitoring market sentiment on the other. Because the device is small enough to hold with both hands, your thumbs can reach the entire screen without a mouse, and snapping on a lightweight magnetic keyboard keeps it incredibly agile.

Create Your First App Pair Today

Free for your first 3 pairs. Upgrade to Pro via a single one-time purchase to unlock unlimited layouts.

SpliconDownload on theApp StoreiPad · iPadOS 15+